Toy blocks



J. LEVIN Oct. 4, 1949.

Fired April 22, 194e Qi @gv/2* E Gun NTOR WITNESSES:

lNVE f ATTORNEY 0ct.4,1949. J, EWNy 2,433,833

TOY BLOCKS Filed April 22, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESSES: INVENTOR ATTORNEYl Patented Oct. 4, 1949 TOY BLOCKS Jacob- Levin,. Pittsburgh, Pan-'assignorfA of.` one-- fourthito Abe E. liinenrianl and` F. .Esther Fine-- man, .and fteenner centto Hymen Diamond,

all of Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application A11-14122, 1946,' SerialNo. 663,922

My inventionrelates toV toys .for `children tand has panti-cular-relation'to blocks;

AsetJof-.blocks having designsfor letterson .their faces constitutesv an mnusuallysatisiactory, torff or entertai1 1ing=ehildren. Blocks-areofsimplef-strucL ture; yet, fb'ecause-.they fmay -f have numerous dif ferent designs ontheir differentfaces, affordfrthe variety essential in holding; a. childs interest. Blocksv may 'be-composed of Wood, composition mater-ial'or plastics and maybe given afsmooth finish. rIfhere-are; accordingly, no cutting;wedgesv or splinters to-injurea child. Blocks-1may beef such large dimensionsfthat.evenachild W-thallarge mouth cannot swallow azblocknori can=a child insert -a'block intoritsnoseorfintoitsears;

It is desirable that blocks shall serve --notlonly for entertainment but also tovedueatezthechild: For .this purpose the patterns:impresse-dionlthe faces of the blocks constructed in accordance withthe teachings of= the prior `art' includeleth ters of the alphabet or numbers. Sometimes slet'- ters and symbolsA illustrating the-letters areineluded; Blocks-of. this type. are,.shownrinf-Patent No. 557,307 to R. W; Foster.;

Prior arti blocksz are notl entirely: satisfactory. A' letter of' the alphabet-ora number isarrraibir-l trarily assignedsyl'nbol; Retentionzroff'the form of the letter-inthe mindsothat' itanraylaterfftie recognized or reproduced is a feat `of pure'nremory. A childplaying withprior art'b'locks perceives the: letters: or numbers impressed fon them :as independent symbols. Anvolder person' may show f the childzzliow ythearbitrary symb olszfonithe :blocks are related. "lhe'childsapprehens'on of the relationship and its recognition".offthisarelaetionship will depend on its -memorizingftne rela,- tionship. Ihus,use' of the blocksvt'en'ds ttrdevelop onlywthe memory.

It is an `objectofrmy invention to provide 'blockgame apparatus for educationaliand;entertainL ment purposes the use of which shall involve other mental functions than pure memory.

A Another:` object or my invention is` to Y provide block-game apparatus, the 'entert'air'rment"A and the educationaiifacilities ofy which'shalbe socorelatedI that the educational* purposesu of the -ap paratus shall be-aid'edby'its entertainment Afeatures'.

A further objectof my invent-ion is to enhance the entertainment facilities of blockegame ap.- paratus by extendingA and'improving its educational facilities'.

Anancillaryobject of. my inventionisyto pro;- vide-block-game apparatus; in which the patterns aclaims. (Cl. .i5-mf onfdiierentfblocks have a dependency which .may

be'perceivedivisually by a young. child. y

Another-@ancillaryobject of my invention is rto provide: azztoy.- blockthe'manufacture of'vvhich,

in large'fqwantities; shall involve va simple `andinexpensive f process.

My` inventionv arises' iromthe realization that the educationalpurpose-served by blocksis-improved; 'andtheir entertainment value enhanced,- by-introducingthe associative mental function in: their use.` A\ necessary concomitanttoassociation isr reasoning. While letters of the fzalphal lbeitv ornumbers-arearbitrarily assigned symbols WhichzaA child; canxidentiiy inhismind only by pure memory, patterns'such aspictures are recognizediby thewchildfrom their content. In accordance with my invention, sections of pictures are associated Withitheletters or numbers impressed onwthefindividual blocks in such manner that ia child will, in'hismin-d, associate a predetermined sequence 4offlettersf'vvithv portions of a unitary picture: In observingtherelationship between the lettersw'and the sections of pictures, .the chi1d-wil1 develop rudimentary;- reasoning processes atan earlyage.

Thee lettersV 'or -other arbitrary symbols are impressedon twosofmoreof the faces at rig-ht angies to eachother of a block constructed in aceorda'ncewith my invention. On each of the respective faces parallel tofaces with the arbitrary symbols, sections of a-unitary pattern or picture are impressed. Thesectio-ns are'so relatedthat, if rthefblocksare arrayed with the-letters Yor numbers in the proper alphabetic or numerical se` quence respectively, the sections on the faces vopposite to` .those 4With theletters or numbers'will cfnnbinefto.form` a unitary pattern. Viceversa; iftheblocks are array-ed se that they combine to formwthepicture and the array turnedover, the letter-ornumberisequence will be displayed. Each :block-,may-have impressed on one'face, a capi-tal lett-er y'oftfthe alphabet; lonfone ofthe faces -at'right angles: tortheflatter, a Word in'which a letter of the'alphabetisfthe first letter together with pictures-.illustrating the Word; and ontheface at right angles to the latter faces, anumber in a sequence ofnumbers, for example, l, 2,3, etc., or` 110,.100,.etc. Thevfaces'opposite theY faces with 5tile-letters, Words and numbers, respectively, may. have impressed` onfthem, sections of pictures.

For. a.full understanding. of. the invention,-.the accompanyingdrawing in connection with a, detailed descriptionof embodiments` are presented. In the drawingi partly in perspective of a modification of my in vention Fig. 6 is a View in perspective showing a portion of the modification shown inA Fig. 15; and

Fig. '7 is a view in perspective illustrating the construction of a block in accordance with my v invention.

The block game shown in Figs. lzto 3 comprises e a rectangular container consisting of top and bottom sections 9 and Il, respectively. The con-- tainer may be composed of wood, cardboard, phenolic, thermoplastic or other suitable material. The bottom section I! of the container consists'oi a rectangular base i3 from the four sides of which side Walls I5 extend .perpendicularly. The dimensions of the bottom section are such that it is iilled by an array ofthirty cubical blocks I'I disposed in it side-by-side in rows five deep and in columns six deep. The area of the base I3 of the bottom section SI' is suiciently large to permit any block I'I in the array when complete to be removed with facility. The area of the base i3 is not, however, so large that with the thirty blocks I? in the lower section II, the spaces between any block and its neighboring blocks are conspicuous. The height of the side Walls I5 is approximately 1/2 to 2/3 the linear dimension of the block il.

The top section 9' of the container comprises a base I9 of linear dimensions larger than the base I3 of the bottom by approximately twice the thickness of the walls. From the base I9 side walls 2l extend; the walls 2l are of the same height as the walls I5 of the bottom section. A strip 23 of sheet material equal in'thickness to the thickness of the walls extends around the periphery of the base is perpendicular to the base and is secured to the wall 2l. The height of the strip 23 is -slightly greater than the difference between the dimension of the block and the height of the wall l5. When the top section 9 is placed over the blocks Il arrayed in rows and columns, the strip 23 engages the top rim of the wall i5 as a shoulder and the wall 2i extends over the wall I5 as a skirt.

On one of its faces, each cf twenty-six of the blocks il has impressed a different letter 25 of the alphabet. Star symbols 2l are impressed on the corresponding faces of the remaining blocks. A section 29 of a unitary picture is impressed on the face of each block opposite to the face bearing the alphabet. The sections 29 on different blocks are so related that if the blocks are arrayed with the letters in the proper alphabetic sequence, the sections 29 combine in themanner of a jig-saw puzzle to form the unitary picture.

On one of the faces of each block which is perpendicular to the face shown" in Figs. land 2, a word 3! and a picture 33 illustrative of the alphabet are impressed. On the face opposite to the face bearing the word and picture. sections of another unitary picture or pattern are impressed. On a third face, perpendicular to the faces shown in Figs. 1 and 2, numbers 35 21 one to thirty are impressed, and on the opposite face, sections of a third unitary picture or pattern are impressed. The sections of the pictures on the faces perpendicular to faces shown in Figs. l and 2 combine to form unitary pictures when the blocks are arrayed with the words and pictures vin the proper alphabetic sequence or the numbers in numerical sequence.

When a child is using the blocks it may first array them in the bottom section II with the letters 25 in alphabetic sequence for example. The 'child may then place the top section 9 over the blocks Il and invert the container. When the bottom section I I is now removed, the picture 'lor .pattern corresponding to the alphabetic sequence is displayed. Conversely, the child may assemble the blocks to form the picture in the .bottom section Ii (or top section 9) and then cover the array and invert it to display the alphabetic sequence.

The game shown in Figs. 5 and 6 comprises a rectangular'framework 3'." of wood, plastic or other suitable material. Two parallel sides 39 of the framework are slotted. 'I'he slot 4I in eachv side extends lfrom a point near one end of the'side 39 throughout the remaining length of the side; At the remaining end, 'the' slot is 'closed by the side i3 of the framework 3l perpendicular to the slotted sides. y' i In the slotsr lil, a plurality of pins l5 are slidably supported. The linear cross-sectional dimension of each pin is slightly larger than the width of the slot. Near each end ea-ch pin is provided with a attened section 41 of length slightly-greater than the thickness of the Wall of the framework. At the flattened section 41, the cross sectional dimension of the pin 45 is suiiciently reduced to permit it to'slide freely along the slot 4I While it is unable' to rotate.

On each pin 55, a row of blocks '59 are rotatably supported. The pin passes through a hole 5 extending between two parallel faces of each of the blocks at their geometric centers.

In constructing the toy, the frame 3l is first assembled less the side 43 which closes the slot 4I. The blocks 49 are then assembled in rows on the pins 5 and the pins are slipped into the slots through the openings in the slots. The side 43 is then secured to the sides 39 and closes the slots.

Alternative constructions of the frame and block assembly are available. For example, the pins may be constructed with the attened ends separable from the centra-l portion but provided with studs to fit tightly in holes in the ends of the central portion. In this case, the blocks are assembled on the central portions of the pins; the pin-portion and block assemblies are then positioned properly within the framework in a jig and the studs on the ends of the 'pins inserted through the slots into the holes in the ends of the center portions of the pins and forced into the holes.

.Twenty-five blocksv i9 are mounted in the frame 37 .in-rows five deep by columns ve deep. The slotted sides 33 of the frame issuiciently longer than the aggregate length of a column of blocks to permit the blocks on any pin to be rotated freely about the pin. For the upper row of blocksthis object may be accomplished by sliding the upper pin upward to a position such that the blocks on this pin clear the upper side of the frame and the blocks in the second row when the blocks in the upper row are rotated. To rotate blocks in any lower row, the pins supporting the blocks in the rows above it are moved upward until the blocks in the upper row are in contact with the upper side 43 of the frame and the blocks in the succeeding rows are in contact with the blocks in the row above them. The pin holding the blocks to be rotated is then moved upward to a position such that it clears the blocks directly below it and the blocks directly above it. The unslotted sides 43 and 53 are sufficiently longer than the aggregate length of a row of blocks to permit rotation of one block in a row without aiIecting the others.

On two perpendicular faces 55 and 51 of the four faces of each block which are perpendicular to the faces 59 through which the pins 45 pass, sections 6| of a unitary picture or pattern are impressed. On the faces opposite to the faces 55 and 51, letter or number sequences are impressed. When the blocks are placed in an array and rotated to a. position such that the proper faces are outward, a unitary pattern as shown in Fig. 5 is displayed on one side of the framework and an alphabetic or a numerical array on the other.

The modification of my invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is not limited to an assembly in which symbols of a sequence are combined with sections of a unitary picture. Sections of a picture may be impressed on all four available sides of each of the blocks and thus four patterns may be available.

The practice of my invention preferably involves blocks on the faces of which colored pictures or patterns are impressed. The printing of colored diagrams and pictures on the faces of blocks involves manufacturing diiculties. I have, accordingly, developed a simple and inexpensive expedient for impressing colored pictures and diagrams on the face of blocks. The expedient is illustrated in Fig. 7.

The patterns 63 or pictures to be impressed on the faces of a block 49 are rst impressed on a web 65 such as a strip of paper or composition. The width of the web 65 is equal to the length of the linear dimension of the block. The patterns or pictures are printed in successive equally spaced sections 61 along the web each section having a length also equal to the dimension of the block 49. The web is also provided with a clear square 69.

The clear square 69 is first secured to one face of the block 49 by means of an adhesive such as a suitable glue. 'Ihe strip is then wrapped around the block and each of the squares bearing a pattern or picture 63 is secured to the corresponding face of the block.

It is to be understood that although certain illustrative embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, my invention is not limited to the specific arrangements shown. For example, although my invention in its specic aspects involves cubical blocks, the blocks l1 and 49 need not be cubical in accordance with the broader aspects of my invention. They may be parallelepipeds or of polygonal cross section in the plane perpendicular to one or the other of the dimensions. In its broadest aspects, my invention includes all equivalent embodiments and modifications which come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. Game apparatus comprising at least 26 blocks, each in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped, each block having impressed, on at least one of two of its faces which are at right angles, a different letter of the alphabet and, on the other of said two faces, a word and a picture illustrating a diiferent letter of the alphabet and on each of the faces parallel to said two faces at right angles a section of a unitary pattern, the sections on the different blocks being so related to said letters of the alphabet that when said blocks are arranged in an array with the letters in alphabetic sequence said sections combine to form a unitary pattern.

2. Game apparatus comprising a plurality of blocks, each in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped, each block having impressed, on at least one of two of its faces which are at right angles, a different letter of the alphabet and, on the other of said two faces, a word and a picture illustrating a different letter of the alphabet and on at least one of the faces parallel to said two faces at right angles a section of a unitary pattern, the sections on the different blocks being so related to said letters of the alphabet that when said blocks are arranged in an array with the letters in a predetermined sequence said sections combine to form a unitary pattern.

JACOB LEVIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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